Month: June 2022

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as…

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Your family members are not your employees. As leaders, we need to learn to separate being a CEO from being with your family. Check yourself at the door and don’t dish out tasks or goals and expectations. Sometimes, all your family needs is a hug, some love or space not to talk.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Mara Hauser.

Mara Houser is the Founder & CEO of the independent brand 25N Coworking as well as Founder & Principal of Workplace Studio. A Registered Interior Designer (RID) by trade, she has been bringing innovative concepts and problem-solving designs to workplaces for more than 30 years.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I first began my career as an interior designer before shifting into a consulting role. Prior to founding 25N, I spent ten years helping companies optimize performance through change management. Through this experience, I began implementing shared workspace concepts into corporate environments. Since then, enterprise companies from all across the country have come to me to make their spaces more productive.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I had been honing my knowledge and experience with flex office design for 10+ years, and I wanted to apply that knowledge to something new — to satisfy my entrepreneurial spirit as well as serve my community. Thus, 25N Coworking was born! Since then, my design firm has been able to reverse-engineer coworking concepts both for corporate clients as well as designing coworking spaces for new and established companies around the country. It was a win-win in establishing authority for Workplace Studio while also creating dynamic spaces that are literally evolving our workforce. In fact, over the last two or three years, Workplace Studio touched 33 coworking brands, planned 99 locations, launched designs for 18 start-ups, conceptualized designs for 13 “white label” projects, worked on 34 “built” coworking spaces, and refreshed 13 brands who started themselves, then brought us in to refresh or evolve their current coworking spaces. To me, that transition was one of the most exciting professional experiences I’ve had.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

The funniest mistake I made while first starting in my career was trying to send a cease and desist order to another company that had the same name as my first business. The only issue was that my attorney informed me that I was actually the one that needed to change the name because, lo and behold, they had trademarked it already!

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

My husband, Randy. Throughout my career he has always been by my side with unwavering support, giving me grace during the highs and lows of starting a business and just being an all around amazing father.

When I was looking to buy my first company and every company since then, he did all of the financials and behind the scenes supporting any way he could. He would assist in anything from financial advisor, pro forma, starting accounting and forecasting, IT — you name it — all while having a full-time job. Randy has treated my business as though it was his own passion project, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without him and his belief in me.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. According to this EY report, only about 20 percent of funded companies have women founders. This reflects great historical progress, but it also shows that more work still has to be done to empower women to create companies. In your opinion and experience what is currently holding back women from founding companies?

There’s a tremendous amount of research about how lack of representation in any given field impacts a person’s internal beliefs about their abilities (here’s just one). It’s not at all a stretch to extrapolate this research out to founders as well. If someone put you on the spot to name five wildly successful male founders, it wouldn’t be hard: Jobs, Disney, Gates, Musk, Rockefeller. What about five females? Elizabeth Holmes? Yes — you see the problem here. Micro-level personal beliefs may be based on societal expectations that influence a person’s own perceptions of their skills. I don’t think a lack of representation in founderships (only 20% as you said) is the only factor holding women back from founder roles, but it’s a very significant one.

It’s also the same old story: where to get funding. The opportunities just aren’t there; women are way less likely to get funding than men due to existing discrimination. Women have had to start businesses out of their own pocket or with family money. And how do women connect and meet VCs? It’s changing now, but it’s only been in the last five years that all-women banks or all-women VC firms have existed. Balancing family roles and traditional gender roles is also a barrier. That’s also changing, but not fast enough.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

One thing that I always urge people to do, especially as a female business owner, is to continue to tell stories of female founders’ success on a micro and macro level. Buy their books, art, music, watch their documentaries (not just the juicy shipwreck ones about fraud), etc. Tell your nieces, nephews and godchildren about your own founding story. Give your time and resources to organizations that are funding and highlighting female founding stories.

These examples are more behind-the-scenes ways to support female founders everywhere while also bringing awareness to younger generations that women are just as capable as men to create their own businesses.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

Because we’re amazing, and bring new perspectives to propel our economy forward. We employ true care and empathy directed at customers, clients, and employees. We’re purpose-driven and passionate. Women founders are smart, savvy, and more tenacious — because we have to be.

In 2015, First Round Capital’s 10 Year Review showed companies with female founders on the founding team perform 63% better than those with only male founders. I could speculate on a number of different reasons why female founders are a force to be reckoned with: 1) They’re less likely to go it alone. 2) They’re often less likely to “fake it”. 3) They’re more likely to develop people-first cultures.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

One myth I want to dispel about being a founder is the notion that you must come up with an innovative idea from the ground up. You don’t always have to create something from nothing. There may be a need or problem that you’ve observed and are able to transform an existing entity to serve as a solution to those needs. Sometimes your idea stems from the desire to fix what is broken. For example, coworking spaces act as a solution to the need of a refreshed, accessible and flexible office space in a world where not everyone is going into a corporate office, has access to a corporate office or businesses simply looking to downsize and maximize their square footage.

Is everyone cut out to be a founder? In your opinion, which specific traits increase the likelihood that a person will be a successful founder and what type of person should perhaps seek a “regular job” as an employee? Can you explain what you mean?

Even though successful startups have been launched by such a stunning variety of interest groups, personalities, backgrounds, and demographics, I don’t believe everyone is cut out to be a founder. It’s not for the lighthearted. In order to be a founder, you need to have a crazy work ethic and the ability to accept hearing “NO” over and over. People won’t like everything you say or decide, but you have to be willing to get uncomfortable and take those steps regardless.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

After I bought my first company, my dad shared an invaluable piece of advice. He said, “The people that work for you will be most important — the conflict, the resolution, the culture.”

While taking a leadership course, I was introduced to the Canoe Theory: running a company is like leading a canoe. If one person rows really fast and one person rows really slow, you go in circles or off course. You need to be running at the same pace and aligned with each other to get to the end of the race fastest.

Making a decision as a CEO is important even though it might be the “wrong” one. Companies fumble when there is indecision. Sometimes you just have to go with your gut and make a decision to keep things moving. That’s a huge part of leadership.

On the other hand, sometimes you have to sit back and let other people move things forward. Trust your team — you built it. Sometimes you need to fill the “visionary” role and let others make the decisions without micromanaging

Your family members are not your employees. As leaders, we need to learn to separate being a CEO from being with your family. Check yourself at the door and don’t dish out tasks or goals and expectations. Sometimes, all your family needs is a hug, some love or space not to talk.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I don’t want to just make the world a better place for one person, I want to create a space that makes the world a better place for everyone. It’s the reason I love coworking — it inherently inspires collaboration, drives the importance of community and provides priceless business tools and resources. Through coworking spaces, people launch businesses they might not have been otherwise able to without the resources inbuilt in a coworking space. These businesses go on to create a better world for others. I want this to develop exponentially, and I believe coworking spaces enable that.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.

If I could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good for the greatest number of people, it would be a revolution in company cultures across the world. Individuals are increasingly choosing to align their careers with their personal values. Business entities need to take meaningful action to prioritize a culture of well-being and help employees find connection and balance. If companies could shift to a people-first mindset rather than a mindset of “getting the most out of an employee while they can’’, the impact on mental health, sustainability and even output would be monumental.

We are very blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.

There are so many business men and women that I would love the opportunity to connect with. While I’m an avid listener of the How I Built This Podcast, I’ve been impressed with their most recent guests including Sarah Blakely of Spanx, Alli Webb of Drybar, Jen Rubio of Away and Elizabeth Cutler and Julie Rice of SOul Cycle. A common thread between all of these guests are their culture, common beliefs and dedication to creating “tribal devotion” through their corporate environments. The way each of these leaders treat employees and customers is inspiring, and behavior I strive for when thinking of entrepreneurship.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Mara Hauser of 25N Coworking On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed…

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Success is 75% who you’re being and 25% what you’re doing. There is always more to do in entrepreneurship. A never-ending task list is standard and will likely never change. By considering the task at hand and asking how you can bring in more aliveness and joy, you will find yourself feeling not as drained and more intentional. The invitation here is to find ways to make your work more enjoyable, and while not everything can be, it doesn’t mean we don’t try. We did not start our own companies to end up in the same position or even worse position than where we started in corporate.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Maclovia Nunez.

Seduiré Studio is a business strategy and embodiment studio helping ambitious thought leaders reignite their passion, pleasure, and purpose in business and life. Our offerings blend five-star business operations and experiential luxury with feminine desires to help women create wildly successful businesses that feel aligned from the inside out. Through our done-for-you business strategy and embodiment coaching, we’re dedicated to helping women stop playing small and step into the leader we know they’re destined to be.

My backstory is similar to most entrepreneurs. I took the traditional path of attending college where I earned my master’s in digital media audience strategy and a minor in business management. I spent six years working with different companies ranging from non-profits to start-ups to multi-million dollar companies. However, as time went on, I felt unfulfilled by my roles and desired to create something of my own that would give me the freedom I was looking for. As a mom, this is especially important to me because being around for the special moments is what matters most to me. I started building my brand in my free time while I was working my 9–5. Once my husband received orders to Japan, I put my two week notice in and never looked back.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

There is not a single most interesting story, however, it’s a collection of tiny ones. As I began leading my company and growing, I realized that my time in college and corporate did little to prepare me for the wild ride that is entrepreneurship. I soon figured out that knowing how to do the work of a business has nothing to do with building a business that works. I truly thought with my degree and background that I could take that experience of what I was doing for someone else and replicate it for myself, but the reality was something entirely different. I had to learn how to do everything by myself which meant focusing my attention on what was necessary and important. Honestly, it gave me a much deeper appreciation for the CEOs I worked with in the past. Running your own business is no joke!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I would not necessarily call it a mistake, but it was definitely a learning opportunity that gives me a few giggles to this day. The first iteration of my brand was something that was quickly thrown together and put out into the world. There was no depth of strategy or intention behind it and it definitely shows! Anytime I need a reminder to see how far I’ve come, I go back and look at the old website and photos. I learned there is nothing wrong with slowing down and pulling back to slingshot forward.

I like to think of my brand as a beautiful, collective effort that would not be successful today without the help of the consultants, brand designers, and copywriters I have worked with who helped bring my vision to life. However, if I have to name one person, it would be my mom. As a kid, she use to tell me I could be whatever I wanted to be when I grew up. I wholeheartedly believed this and wanted to be the first woman president of the United States. She believed in me even when I went through tough years as a teenager and young adult. She truly taught me what it means to genuinely love other people as they are and not as we wish them to be. She lived with me and supported my biggest dreams up until she passed in 2019.

In my experience, I would say the multiple barriers faced by women today are a result of our culture and systems in place. Women founders face biases, fear of failing, financial insecurity, and the narrative around work/life balance. For instance, young boys and men are given specific narratives around risk-taking, entrepreneurship, and failing that young girls and women are not. In college, the majority of my business classes were made up of a large percentage of men. I don’t say this to belittle men because their perspective is valuable. However, when it is the only perspective taken into consideration because it’s the overwhelming majority, that’s when the narrative becomes skewed. Lastly, many women are desiring to create their own definition of what it looks like to build a successful company. These new ideals and ways of doing things can make it difficult to operate in a world that values being linear over cyclical, especially when it comes to funding initiatives. As women, it is important we realize we don’t have to create companies in the way that’s been done before. We can create something new.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

As a society, we need to start redefining what success looks like and realize that everyone is entitled to their own definition. On a societal level, we need to encourage young girls to develop entrepreneurial skills, showcase more women founders, and provide affordable and easy access to resources and information on how to start a company. On an individual level, we can start by recognizing any biases we may have around what a woman founded company looks like and shift our internal narrative to one of curiosity versus accusing or shutting down. By sharing knowledge and different perspectives and voices, we create a society that is more open to innovation. Can you imagine what could be created if we allowed those with new ideas and ways of doings thing to be who they desire to be? As individuals, we should always be questioning and asking why and be brave enough to face the answer. I believe as more individuals start to reflect, this will create an impact on society and government as a whole.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

More women should become founders because of our excellent ability to lead with emotional intelligence, collaboration, and intuition. These are excellent skills for founders because they are needed to effectively lead a team, create jobs, increase revenue, pioneer innovation, and so much more. The ‘soft’ skills that women innately have are exactly what make us exceptional at founding and running a company.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

The biggest myth I would like to dispel is that of hustle culture and the ‘you can have it all’ narrative. The women I’ve worked with, myself included, have created success in our lives and businesses by choosing to prioritize intention over massive to-do lists and burn out. The common advice is that you must constantly sacrifice and work to create success. While dedication and consistency are important, those traits are not synonymous with burn out and overwhelm. You get to create success on your own terms if you are bold enough to define and pursue what that looks like for you. As a founder, you are the leader who must embody what it is you desire your culture to look like. What are you embodying? Intention and focus or burn out and overwhelm? Lastly, the ‘you can have it all’ narrative. I find this narrative can do more harm than good without context. I do believe you can live a richly satisfying life of your creation. However, you are always saying no to something and sometimes you will have to choose. You get to have it all, but it may not be all at once especially at the beginning.

No, not everyone is cut out to be a founder. The specific traits that increase the likelihood that you will be a successful founder is the ability to lead yourself, devotion, dedication, and willingness to put one foot in front of the other even when it looks like everything is crumbling around you. The way you embrace your failure will say more about you than how you embrace your success. I often find that intrapreneurs have these same qualities, however, they choose to be under the umbrella of a successful company. If you have no desire to lead a team, strategize, make the difficult decisions, or fail then being a founder may not be for you. As a founder, it is our job to lead a movement around a vision and that takes devotion and dedication that not every person cares to have.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

When it becomes less about me, it becomes more about you. When I first started out, I was in a space of wanting to quickly sign clients and make money. The focus was primarily on myself which led to me feeling unfulfilled regardless of how many clients I worked with or revenue goals I hit. I began to realize that what I do has absolutely nothing to do with me, and everything to do with who I’m here to serve and the mark I’m meant to leave on this world. When we remove ourselves from the pedestal and give our company over to the vision, you will find the people you’re meant to serve and who will rally your cause.
Build out your systems as you go and before you’re ready. Your systems are what makes you money. Ideally you’ll want to set up your company to be run by systems and then have the team run the system. The best time to start building them is before you’re booked out and ready to bring on a team. You do not need to be at a certain revenue number before implementing systems.
Sales informs marketing. As someone who has worked extensively in marketing, I am sad to admit that when I started my business I had no clue that sales informed marketing which is all too common in companies that operate in silos. To create an effective marketing strategy, you must first know your sales forecast and strategy.
Business is cyclical. Not linear. We hear the common narrative that business should always be expanding and growing. However, business will ebb and flow as all things do. There will be times you experience exponential growth and be in a state of creative flow, and there will be times where you need to let things go and re-evaluate. As in life, there’s a season for everything.
Success is 75% who you’re being and 25% what you’re doing. There is always more to do in entrepreneurship. A never-ending task list is standard and will likely never change. By considering the task at hand and asking how you can bring in more aliveness and joy, you will find yourself feeling not as drained and more intentional. The invitation here is to find ways to make your work more enjoyable, and while not everything can be, it doesn’t mean we don’t try. We did not start our own companies to end up in the same position or even worse position than where we started in corporate.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

We recently started a new initiative to donate 10% of each contract to a non-profit of our choice. I firmly believe in women empowerment, diversity and inclusion, the health of the environment, and ending generational cycles of poverty. I do my best to incorporate these values throughout my offerings in different ways and look forward to adding in new initiatives in the future, such as scholarships, free educational resources, and more.

A movement I believe would bring the most good is providing free and quality education on how to create wealth to those in poverty stricken communities. It is the birth-right of every individual to live a life of safety, love, and empowerment. When we stop trying to build ourselves up on the backs of others and instead invite others up to join us and give them the means and ability to do so, I believe we will build a much happier world.

I would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with Shonda Rhimes. I love the work she has created and her dedication to working with those in underrepresented communities all while being a mother.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Maclovia Nunez of Seduiré Studio On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support…

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Get comfortable with the idea that you must be bad at something before you can be good at it. We’re all learning as we go, and it’s okay if the first draft of a project or your first social media posts aren’t perfect.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Katie Pedrick.

As the cofounder, chief health officer for Point, Katie Pedrick provides the custom acupressure protocol for all users, like what she does for patients at V.I.B.E Wellness, her thriving acupuncture practice in Boston. Katie’s extensive background in the medical field dates to her time at Boston University where she studied cancer genomics and earned a bachelor’s degree in genetics.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I grew up in Vermont with parents who were always focused on health. At school, I was the kid with the “weird” lunches that consisted of organic tofu and carob cookies instead of bologna sandwiches and fruit roll ups. For as long as I can remember, whenever any health issues in our family came up, the question was always “what are the diet and lifestyle changes that should be made” and never “what are the medication options.” During college, I was absolutely convinced that I wanted to be a doctor. I studied genetics, then started working in cancer research at a top cancer center to get my feet wet. Very quickly, I discovered that Western medicine was not for me. For everything that could go wrong in the body there was a pill. Then there was a pill for the side effects of the first pill, and another pill for the side effects of the second pill, and so on. Prevention of the disease, diet, and lifestyle therapy options like I had seen growing up were never discussed. It all felt very backwards and reactive rather than proactive. I knew that I wanted to help people improve their health, but I also knew I didn’t want pharmaceuticals to be my first line of defense.

After some soul searching, I discovered Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and without looking back, I decided to get my doctorate in acupuncture, and herbal medicine. What I find beautiful about TCM is that it strives to understand and address the root cause of the disease. We even divide treatments into two categories: “root” treatments that tackle the true underlying cause, and “branch” treatments that address uncomfortable symptoms. The goal is always to help one’s body heal itself, rather than using medication to mask symptoms. My true love and passion are combining modern science with traditional medicine, so I also got a master’s degree in Biotechnology where I wrote my thesis on using traditional herbal medicine in the treatment of depression. I own a wellness practice in Boston called VIBE Wellness, and most recently cofounded an acupressure iOS app called Point Acupressure.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

Every day in the clinic I’m amazed by my patients and how Traditional Chinese Medicine has the power to totally transform their lives. One of my favorite stories (shared with permission) is of a patient who was struggling to get pregnant. Although she was in her 30s, she had only ever had a handful of natural periods. She had been on hormonal birth control since she was a young teen, which she had stopped more than a year earlier, yet her period hadn’t returned. She had been told by her doctors that IVF was her only option, but a friend urged her to come see me, so she thought, “why not.” I set her up with herbs, provide lifestyle advice, and an acupuncture treatment plan. Within two weeks she had her first natural period in over 20 years. The next month she was pregnant and is now the mother of a healthy beautiful baby girl. It’s amazing how our bodies have a remarkable ability to heal themselves. Sometimes the smallest tweaks can make the biggest difference, and the key is knowing which tweaks are most appropriate and effective for one’s unique body.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Starting a business is scary. When I first graduated from acupuncture school, I knew I wanted to start my own practice, but was terrified of going at it alone. What if I failed? I don’t know why it feels safer to do something scary with a buddy, but it does. I decided to partner with a dear friend from school. Unfortunately, it was a disaster! On the clinical side everything was perfect. Patients were getting better; they were so happy with their treatment that friends were being referred and our business was growing. On the business side, it was a different story. We were two strong willed people with an equal say in a business, where we had a difference of opinion that became apparent within a few months. It was not a recipe for success, and it ultimately ruined our friendship. This was a painful experience, but I learned a lot — most importantly, to trust in myself that I could do it alone. Now I mentor other women who are starting their own businesses and surprisingly, it’s always a familiar story. The woman has a brilliant idea, but is afraid to go at it alone, so her solution is to ask a friend. I always encourage the person to question that choice. What are her reasons for taking on a partner? Does that partner bring skills or expertise to the table that she doesn’t have? Could she be just as successful and build this business alone?

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Health and wellness are something that impacts all of us, but not equally across the socioeconomic spectrum. America has some of the largest income related health disparities in the world. People in the top 1% of income have an expected lifespan of a full 15 years [1] longer than those in the bottom 1%. Why is that? It isn’t just about having access to better doctors and care while one’s sick, it’s also about having access to a wide variety of preventative health services that keep one from getting sick in the first place. When we talk about wellness, we’re effectively talking about preventative techniques — eating high quality food, having a movement routine, practicing stress management, and supplementation etc.… The problem is that these things are expensive, and the traditional insurance model doesn’t typically cover them. I strongly believe that we should all have access to the information that can help one take control of his/her life to help prevent illness and live one’s healthiest life.

Therefore, my cofounders, and I created the Point Acupressure app! The app takes the user through a series of questions — just like an acupuncturist would in his/her office — to get a sense of one’s overall health and where it could be improved. It then tells the user what imbalances it sees and creates a custom wellness plan, which includes acupressure that can be done at home, diet modifications, lifestyle advice, and even supplement recommendations. All the pieces of the preventative health puzzle that used to be very expensive is now customized. The yearly cost of the app is a fraction of the cost for just one session with an acupuncturist, and as part of our commitment to making things affordable, most of the app is completely free! Our goal is to empower as many people as possible to be educated about their health so they can live healthier lives.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Learn to listen to your body. We’re often taught to ignore a lot of instincts — we eat until the plate is empty not until we’re full. We stay in uncomfortable social situations out of politeness, and we forego sleep to meet deadlines. This sort of habitual ignoring of our most basic internal instincts teaches us to tune them out. However, our bodies are constantly trying to tell us what they need. Learn to pay more attention to what your body is saying, and really listen in. What foods make you feel good, and vice versa which make you feel bad? Not necessarily while you’re eating them, but in the hours after. What exercise leaves you feeling energized for the day, and what leaves you feeling depleted? Does your body intuitively need more rest than you’re giving it? These are all important questions that your body has unique answers for, and those answers will help guide you to optimal wellbeing.
Eat more plants. Seriously. You cannot eat too many plants, and odds are very good that you’re not eating enough. Compared to 50 years ago, our soil today is depleted in vitamins and nutrients, which means that the food we now eat is substantially lower in those same vitamins and nutrients than it once was. Our bodies are designed to thrive on large quantities of vegetables and <10% of us eating even two cups a day. It doesn’t have to be broccoli if that isn’t your preference, choose any plants that feel good to you (yes, even fruits), and just eat more of them!
Sleep more. When life gets stressful, sleep is the first thing that gets cut, but it’s imperative to helping nearly every one of our body systems function properly. Sleep is so critical that sleeping less than 7 hours a night is associated with an increased risk of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, mental illness, and even death. If you could slash your risk for all those diseases by doing something as pleasurable as sleep, why wouldn’t you?
Move your body every day. Exercise doesn’t have to be a chore, and it doesn’t have to be something that takes tons of time out of your schedule. What our bodies need isn’t always intense CrossFit classes (unless those feel good to you and you love doing them!), all you need to get many of the benefits of regular exercise is doubling your resting heart rate for a total of 30 minutes. That’s as easy as taking a brisk walk on your lunch break with a friend! Choose an activity you enjoy and do it every single day.
Acupressure. Acupressure is an amazing self-care practice that can combine the benefits of mindfulness meditation with the benefits of regular acupuncture. Peer reviewed data demonstrates its efficacy for anxiety, sleep issues, digestive health, stress management, and many other ailments. If you aren’t sure where to start, check out the Point Acupressure app on iOS for guided sessions to get you going.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I look forward to a time when acupressure and the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine are as common as taking Advil! We’re working hard on creating that movement with the Point Acupressure iOS App. Chinese medicine is wonderful because it doesn’t take a one-size-fits-all approach to health, but instead it looks at the body as a unique being. The Point Acupressure app is so revolutionary because it’s powered by AI that creates a unique TCM diagnosis based on how I diagnose people in my clinic. This means it’s truly a personalized wellness plan in the palm of one’s hand, for pennies (or free!) a day.

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

There’s room for everyone at the top. Avoid the temptation to compete with your peers and instead allow them to become your greatest allies.
Get comfortable with the idea that you must be bad at something before you can be good at it. We’re all learning as we go, and it’s okay if the first draft of a project or your first social media posts aren’t perfect.
Enjoy the process. Building anything — a business, an app, a new wellness plan — takes time and patience. It can feel frustrating when you haven’t “made it” yet, but the journey is where you learn the most.
Be curious and open to other perspectives. The people we meet who seem the most different from us on the surface often have the most to teach us.
It is always worth it to chase your dreams. It’s scary to start something new, but don’t ever let the fear of failure stop you from trying.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine we think of mental and physical health as being intricately intertwined. One does not exist without the other. I love that mental health is becoming a bigger part of everyday conversation because, until recently, it was often overlooked and ignored. If you’re suffering from a serious mental health diagnosis you should always seek the help of a licensed medical provider. And I strongly encourage those who suffer with more minor forms of mental health concerns to think of their symptoms in the context of their total body health as well. The gut and brain can be very closely linked. About 60% of people who have diagnosed anxiety or depression suffer with IBS, versus just 15% in the general population. Our body systems do not act in isolation and taking a bird’s eye holistic approach to both mental and physical health can allow one to balance both the mind and body simultaneously.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

You can find me on a variety of social platforms!
Instagram: @ vibeacupuncture & @ pointacupressure

Tiktok: @ pointacupressure
Youtube: Katie the Acupuncturist

and in my iOS App Point Acupressure

[1] Chetty R, Stepner M, Abraham S, et al. The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001–2014. JAMA. 2016;315(16):1750–1766. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.4226

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Women In Wellness: Katie Pedrick of Point On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: LaKendra Smalley Of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs On The Five…

Female Founders: LaKendra Smalley Of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Redefine the word “hustle”/ work-life balance- I would have personalized what that word meant for me instead of running myself into the ground. Redefine it to fit your business and yourself as a CEO.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Master Coach LaKendra Smalley.

Master Coach LaKendra Smalley is the CEO and Founder of 7-figure earning life coaching school: The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs. The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs specializes in certifying, training, and hiring life coaches, and intends to employ a life coach in all 195 countries around the globe.

I am the founder and CEO of the Global Institute for Coaches & Entrepreneurs, Inc., a school dedicated to training and certifying one million life coaches around the globe. As a certified life & business coach, I’ve made it my mission to help leaders with their self-healing so that they can live the lives that they want to lead. Too often, those who have not done their inner-work transfer their suffering onto others and inadvertently contribute to problems they are trying to solve. Affectionately known as ‘The Heart Expert’, I help my clients and coaches substitute the suffering in their lives with love via a process I call ‘The 7 Dimensions of Wellness’.

Watching my mother battle with clinical depression is what inspired me to start my journey as a global leader, coach, and heart expert. Growing up, I’d always go with my mother to the public library and watch her read self-help books in attempts to improve her quality of life. Realizing the amazing impact these self-help books had on her by helping her conquer unfavorable life challenges, I became passionate about humanity, psychology and in dismantling trauma and lost hope in order to create a better and happier life for people.

Set on the career path I’d chosen for myself, I started my 15-year journey in the industry. Prior to deciding to open my life coaching school, I’d worked in behavior management as a parole officer and as a behavior adjustment educator working with at-risk youth with various mental illnesses for independent school districts all around the Dallas metroplex.

Since 2005, I have been running a charity in the heart of Dallas called H.Y.P.E Kidz Nation Inc., where I devote all my time, energy, and compassion into educating girls and women on how to mend their hearts and do their inner-healing so they can start having the quality of life that they want to have.

I also became a community activist and advocate where I spearhead two notable charity events a year: Community Fun Walk — designed to raise awareness about childhood obesity, and the Heart Gala — designed to spread awareness about heart disease in women with heart-and-mental-health issues.

I am also in partnership with the Daliso Foundation, a foundation that provides school supplies to less fortunate children in Zambia, and also give charitable donations to other non-profit organizations through my website http://www.leadingwithlove.store.

Moreover, I have been recognized by her community as the Top Executive Female — Addison Magazine, 10 Shades of Success — Elite Award of Growth, Pioneer — Nationally recognized SOS Award, Home-Town Hero — Radio One, 10 Shades of Success Dallas- Elite Award, and Community Service Award — Sons Of Light Grand Council, A.A.S.R.M. & Seraphina Grand Chapter, O.E.S. Besides, the widely acclaimed professional coach and motivator has been featured in several publications.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I’d have to say my most interesting story would be about my expansion into the Philippines and traveling there to certify life coaches in-person, not knowing anything about the country or culture. That was a very life-changing moment for me because it made my business a global brand. Now, The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs has a hub in the U.S and in the Philippines.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

Once business started picking up with certifying life coaches, it was hard to keep up with everyone’s names. After you certify your first 100 coaches, it can be easier for things to become a blur.. Sometimes, you forget names.

I had a coach fly in for certification that asked me if I knew what her name was, and I realized then and there that I didn’t know anyone’s name. Being a CEO with ADHD, it’s harder for me to learn and remember names, so now everyone wears a nametag.

My mother and my grandmother.They were my highest example of what entrepreneurship looked and sounded like. They taught me about resilience, consistency, and discipline– I learned that through them.

Mindset and that big word I don’t agree with: balance. It’s the guilt women feel for having to choose family over business or business over family, instead of choosing what lights them up.

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

1: Hire a life coach.

2: Society not putting so much pressure on a woman having to choose between one or the other, family over business.

3: Government having more resources to help women start a business without having to sacrifice taking care of her family. If the government does this, she won’t have to make that sacrifice because she will have those financial resources.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

It will extend her legacy and give her a greater purpose. It’s not only men that can leave a legacy of wealth to their families- women should be able to do that too. Becoming a female founder will allow her to leave her name in history.

My grandmother was the first black woman to work in the assembly line at Texas Instrument- her name will forever be in history.

My mother was the first black flight attendant student that graduated in her class.

I am the first black woman authorized by Medicaid to hire qualified life coaches to offer mental health services.

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

That entrepreneurship is glamorous.

The glamor comes at the end- it is never at the beginning.

It’s long hours; it’s a huge sacrifice of your time, family, and sometimes your own health, but if you can survive it: it’s all worth it in the end.

You have to be a visionary. And not just that, you have to be able to see the vision and execute the vision.

You have to have resilience, innovation, and passion.

You also need to know your weaknesses and not hide from them. When you know your weaknesses and don’t hide from them, you won’t have the fear of putting people in place to help with your business. Self-awareness is key to being a successful female founder, and part of that self-awareness involves knowing what you need to pass off to those that are more qualified.

You also have to be responsible for doing your “inside” work. Your desire for personal development needs to be as strong as your desire to make money.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Your personal growth and/or lack thereof can affect the growth of your business
Outsource earlier- I know many people feel they aren’t in the position to do that yet, but you can. There’s never not a way. Instead of saying “I can’t do it”, say “how can this be done”. You can find interns, you can barter, give gifts and exchange services. You need to come into business thinking “we” not “me”- think team.
Hire a business attorney- it’s important that when you do business with anyone that you understand your legal obligations and other people’s legal obligations to you. If you hire a business attorney they can tell you what contracts you need for protecting your Intellectual Property. It also helps you have a different kind of posture as a business owner.
Legal advice is also needed before starting your business.
Redefine the word “hustle”/ work-life balance- I would have personalized what that word meant for me instead of running myself into the ground. Redefine it to fit your business and yourself as a CEO.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

I am working to have a Certified Life Coach represented in all 195 countries.

If there’s one radical Change-Agent, Thought-Leader, Influencer, or Decision-Maker represented in every country with the heart of a Life Coach; the expansion of their heart will infinitely penetrate one child, one person, one family, and one community at a time, and what a better place this world would be.

My vision for The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs has always been to have one one million life coaches around the globe.

I was given this vision of bringing the entire world together to expand love and compassion into the hearts of leaders wanting to make our world a better place. I had no idea how I could do that until I found life coaching. I found that in order to make the world better, I had to become better. I needed to be more responsible for the life I was living by limiting my suffering, which expanded more to loving myself better. I am the “better world” I was looking for all of this time. Now, I am teaching others how to become their “better world.” Life coaching is God’s profession. It teaches you how to love through the expansion of self, which makes you responsible for helping others to do the same.

Jay Z, Puff Daddy, and Jay Shetty.

Jay Z- to me Jay Z really represents what’s possible for me. Him coming from poverty to being a billionaire and expanding himself beyond just rap- it’s just amazing and captivating for me.

Puff Daddy- to me, he is freaking radical. He is the example that you can reinvent yourself however many times you want to, and I love how he unapologetically expresses love.

Jay Shetty- in my late 20’s I was mentored by munk, and I would love to be able to sit down with Jay because he’s transitioned over into a new platform. I’d like to be able to be enlightened by him and hear his takes on healing world suffering.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: LaKendra Smalley Of The Global Institute for Coaches and Entrepreneurs On The Five… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Author Rorie Weisberg of ‘Food You Love That Loves You Back’ Cookbook On The…

Women In Wellness: Author Rorie Weisberg of ‘Food You Love That Loves You Back’ Cookbook On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Focus on building one aspect of your business at a time. I was starting a product line, building a website, running social media, and seeing clients all at the same time. I needed to build a foundation and a toolbox first and take things slower in the beginning.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Rorie Weisberg.

Rorie Weisberg, CHC, is the author of the newly released cookbook, Food You Love: That Loves You Back. This book features over 200 recipes that are kosher and made with wholesome, easy-to-find ingredients, and many are also gluten-free! Certified in integrative nutrition, Rorie is the health ambassador of Kosher.com, a popular health columnist and lecturer, and founder and CEO of Full ‘N Free, LLC, an exclusive line of better-for-you baking essentials. To learn more about Rorie’s story, product line, courses, and live demos, visit www.fullnfree.com or follow her on Instagram at @fullnfree.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

My backstory is long, but the short version is that after my last child was born 12 years ago, I developed Postpartum Thyroiditis. It affected me in many ways. Medicine had little to offer me, so I decided to check out Dr. Google. After a lot of research, I learned that the way we treat our bodies matters and that different foods give our bodies different instructions.

I was totally overwhelmed, but I decided to choose the new hard over the old hard. The process of changing my habits was grueling — I had no idea how to cook healthy food that also tasted good. I didn’t know which ingredients to buy and, most of all, how to feed my family and myself without making two dinners every night. Because I was so blown away by the changes in my health and life, I became a kitchen mad scientist (as my sister says). It meant a lot of trial and error and throwing out pans of food, but I never gave up.

Now that I learned the ropes the hard way, it has become my mission and passion to share what I’ve learned with others and make that process easier for them. This inspired me to develop a line of better-for-you bread mixes and baking essentials and write and publish Food You Love: That Loves You Back. This book features over 200 recipes that are kosher and made with wholesome, easy-to-find ingredients, and many are also gluten-free!

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

“I have so many inspiring stories, so it’s very hard to choose. I feel like I see G-d’s hand in my life and business constantly.

One story that stands out most to me is when the manufacturer I was working with told me they might not be able to continue. I felt lost and abandoned. It was very hard and after going through a lot of emotions, I finally said, ‘G-d, you gave this to me, so if you want it back, I accept it. Just like you helped me start this from nothing, if you want it to continue, I know you will find a way. Whatever happens, I accept it as your will.’ I really worked hard to come to that place of peace and surrender.

The very next day, I got a call from my manufacturer and they let me know that they actually resolved the issues and not only were they not going to stop, but also they got an investor and would be expanding. It taught me such an important lesson that I keep going back to: I can put in my efforts, but I know all my success and limitations come from G-d and he is preparing the journey that is meant for me to serve him and do his will. When I keep that focus, life becomes truly full and free.”

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

“The biggest mistake I made was taking on more than I could handle and not setting work hours. It’s so hard to start your own business, especially when you’re a perfectionist like me and want everything just so. I was pushing way too hard and burned out. All the gains of changing my habits went out the window because even though I was eating healthier ingredients, I was super stressed and not taking care of myself.

I also realized that if my business was sabotaging everything I worked so hard to gain health-wise, it wasn’t worth it all. I had to pull back and learn to limit, say ‘no’, delegate, and stop seeing help as an expense but rather an investment. Unfortunately, it took a bunch of times to learn the lesson, but I’ve learned to ask for help, say ‘no’, and set work hours (well, I’m still working on that one). Overall, though, I’ve definitely learned the hard way to work smarter, not harder.”

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

I love this question! My goal is to share a message that’s hard for people to understand. Diet culture has hijacked healthy food, so when people think of healthy eating they think weight loss. My approach is not about losing weight; it’s about gaining health. Sometimes, weight loss is a side effect when a person’s habits are not allowing his or her body to be at its natural weight. However, I never talk about losing weight, calories, or calculations of any kind. My message is to enlighten women on how to treat their bodies with respect and responsibility.

I also put a big emphasis on other health habits like sleep, hydration, attunement, and movement. Not for the means of the end goal to change the way we look, but to change the way we feel. My message is about believing that you can nourish and nurture yourself with dignity and deliciousness. I am also super passionate about sharing the recipes and tools to make traditional favorites with ingredients that love you back.

To that end, I developed a line of better-for-you bread mixes and baking essentials. I also recently wrote and published the first-ever kosher health cookbook called Food You Love: That Loves You Back. The book is a collection of tips, tools, and over 200 recipes that have made my commitment to health doable and delicious. Now, I have the privilege of sharing all of that with others to help them live full ‘n free!

Available in stores and on Amazon, Food You Love transforms all your traditional favorites — pancakes for breakfast, pizza for lunch, schnitzel for dinner. Brisket, kugel, and cholent for Shabbos, along with dips, enticing salads, and loads of veggie sides, topped off with chocolate mousse and cookie crumble. You’ll enjoy every bite and leave the table feeling full, energized, and confident that you’ve served and savored only the best.

Healthy means something different for everyone, especially if you need to avoid certain ingredients. Many recipes offer a few variations, like gluten-free, nut-free, egg-free, and even refined sugar-free, so that you can customize them to your and your family’s preference. The cookbook even features QR codes that you can scan for a real-life glimpse into my kitchen & shopping wagon! Also included are my tips on the basics on staying full and energized with healthful eating, menu planning advice, and insight on how to practically balance advance food prep with an on-the-go lifestyle.”

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

“That’s so perfect that you asked for 5, as I actually call the healthy habits to get ‘in shape’ the ‘5 to thrive’! They are sleep, hydration, attunement, physical activity, and eating respectfully and responsibly. When I talk about each topic, I suggest people work on them in order. Most people want to hear about what to eat and how to work out. However, I think it’s really important to work on sleep, hydration, and attunement first because a rested, hydrated, and mindful person will make much better choices and be able to be consistent.”

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

“To slow down and become more mindful. Most people have aborted ship, as I like to say. I know because I had to work really hard to start to hear my body’s cues. But the more I listened to my body’s whispers, the louder they got and those intuitive signals can really lead me to make respectful and responsible choices. I would also like to make a movement to change so many of the ingredients used that hijack our hormones and taste buds, causing a lot of static. This makes it so much harder to be attuned.”

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

“The top 5 things are:

1. Hire an assistant if you can afford it. You can’t do everything!

2. Focus on building one aspect of your business at a time. I was starting a product line, building a website, running social media, and seeing clients all at the same time. I needed to build a foundation and a toolbox first and take things slower in the beginning.

3. Take one day a week off. I’m still not completely listening to that advice, but I still wish I would have heard it and listened in the beginning.

4. For my book, I wish someone would have explained the process to me. I ended up in a major crunch in the end that could have been avoided or limited had I had more clarity.

5. Trust more and know that not everything you can do you have to do now. My sister always said, ‘Rorie, you can do anything but you don’t have to.’ I pushed too hard during the earlier stages and learned to slow down and not ‘fill’ my plate so much.”

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

“I’d say that of these, mental health really jumps out. Our mindset is everything. Being a healthy person is only partially how you take care of your body. It’s how you connect emotionally to yourself and the other people in your life. It’s all connected.”

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Website: https://fullnfree.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorie-weisberg/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Full-n-Free-298441800579215/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fullnfree

Twitter: https://twitter.com/rorie_weisberg

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Women In Wellness: Author Rorie Weisberg of ‘Food You Love That Loves You Back’ Cookbook On The… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Naya Powell of Utopia Spa and Global Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That…

Women In Wellness: Naya Powell of Utopia Spa and Global Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Practicing mindfulness — take a few minutes each day to a few cleansing breaths and allow yourself to be fully present with your body and surroundings.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Naya Powell.

Naya Powell is a third-generation entrepreneur in the health and wellness space. As the founder of Utopia Spa and Global Wellness, she continues her family’s legacy of wellness and self-care. Utopia is a multi-cultural, international workplace wellness brand.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

My passion for wellness is deeply influenced by my health-conscious marathon running father and the influences of my mother, the first Black national Mary Kay director in Virginia. I saw both of my parents working hard to empower their communities with employment opportunities. Their entrepreneurial, wellness, and beauty influences shaped me into the wellness pioneer I am today.

As a third-generation entrepreneur, I was motivated to start Spa Utopia, Inc. based on experiences with the impacts of stress and burnout personally and within my family. In addition, I have worn the hats of founder and corporate leader. Therefore, I understand first-hand the immense burnout, time poverty, and lack of work-life integration endured by numerous professionals.

The Utopia brand has evolved to stay relevant and meet self-care needs worldwide during our global pandemic. Spa Utopia (SU) was formalized in September 2018. SU provided luxury spa and wellness services on-demand for events, corporations, and high-end hotels, delivering convenient and customized self-care for The Ritz Carlton, The NFL Superbowl, WeWork, Martha Stewart, P. Diddy, and others.

As a result of COVID 19, we had to pivot, expand, and rebrand quickly. Due to the mental health and wellness crisis the world was thrust into, we decided to leverage technology in new and innovative ways. While the pandemic pushed many into social isolation and depression, we decided to answer the call to create a safe, convenient, fun, and global community to elevate our self-care. So, in December of 2020, we renamed the company and became a D.B.A. Utopia Spa and Global Wellness (UGSW).

Workplace: The American Institute of Stress reports that more than 120,000 people die every year as a direct result of work-related stress.
1 in 5 adults in the US report living with mental health challenges.
The American Institute of Stress reports that 120,000 people die every year due to work-related stress.
A recent WHO-led study estimates that depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy $ 1 trillion USD each year in lost productivity.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

There have been a few “interesting” milestones and achievements along my entrepreneurial journey. I am proud to say I receiving the Google for Startups: Black Founder Fund. I was one of only 50 recipients to receive $100k of non-diluted capital. Receiving this funding during a pandemic afforded Utopia SGW the resources to pivot, rebrand, and press forward into a global wellness platform.

I applied for this funding the year prior, and we were not selected. I was devastated. However, the lesson learned is that even when you get a “no,” try and try again. A dream delayed is not a dream denied. Had we received the funding the year before, we would have invested the funding in our luxury spa on-demand business model, which would not have survived the initial phase of COVID.

Perseverance and resilience pays off!

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I felt like I could do it all at the beginning of my founder journey. This caused balls to get dropped. The lesson learned is the importance of having a solid quality team of support. I have since hired a team that supports Operations, Digital Marketing & Sales, UX/Technical Development, Client Support, and others.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

Utopia Spa & Global Wellness (USGW) is a digital platform that offers live and on-demand virtual wellness classes — that can be enjoyed anytime — anywhere, such as mindfulness, yoga, pilates, movement, wellness coaching/workshops, and retreats. Our global wellness community has members and instructors that span seven countries and five continents.

We help employees bring their best selves to work, which helps employers achieve their talent, retention, recruitment, and productivity goals. We take a multicultural *wholistic approach to wellness experiences that celebrate mindful diversity, inclusion, and belonging!

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Gratitude journaling — start or end your day by writing three things you are grateful for.
Practicing mindfulness — take a few minutes each day to a few cleansing breaths and allow yourself to be fully present with your body and surroundings.
Going for a walk outside or getting your body moving with a virtual yoga class
Create an environment of peace and harmony in your home with music to energize or relax you as needed, candles, and pictures
Create a vision for your day by writing down goals daily

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

That is what Utopia SGW is doing — our global platform is revolutionizing self-care so that the world can show up as their best selves!

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Don’t quit your job prematurely.
Cultivate your network — it is net worth!
Build your business infrastructure to include your business plan, website, marketing materials, business license, insurance, marketing strategy, and client list before you take the plunge to b
Develop relationships with advisors, mentors, and fellow founders

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health is a cause that is nearest and dearest to my heart. I recognize that the world is suffering on so many levels. The pandemic has certainly exasperated all of us. We live during a time when depression and anxiety are at an all-time high.

The BIPOC, founder, and youth communities feel the impact of mental health even more than others.

Black women are the most undertreated for depression
Entrepreneurs: According to USC Berkeley Study, 72 percent of entrepreneurs reported mental health concerns
Nearly 37 percent of U.S. college students have depression
According to a 2018 study, out of 67,000 surveyed students, 9 percent had attempted suicide.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online? Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Utopia SGW:

Web: https://www.utopiaSGW.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/utopiasgw/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/UtopiaSGW
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/company/utopiasgw
TW: https://twitter.com/UtopiaSGW

Naya F. Powell

LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nayafelapowell/
Linktree: linktr.ee/utopialiving.with.naya

Thank you for these fantastic insights!

Women In Wellness: Naya Powell of Utopia Spa and Global Wellness On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Valerie Ribon Of QuartzMind On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a…

Female Founders: Valerie Ribon Of QuartzMind On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Stay over organized. Your calendar, your to-do list, and your files! Have a system for each one. When we first started everything was a mess, getting organized has saved me countless hours & made sure that we’re able to grow and take on employees.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Valerie Ribon.

After experiencing a decline in productivity and motivation over the course of the pandemic, Integrative Nutrition expert and QuartzMind founder, Valerie Ribon restored her focus and sense of wellbeing by adjusting her diet with whole foods, herbs and vitamins. Valerie was determined to develop a solution that would make a true difference in how people feel as they adjusted to a new lifestyle. Thus, QuartzMind was born with their debut product, Work From Home™, a blend of proven vitamins, nootropics, and adaptogens that aid in productivity, focus, stress reduction, circulation and help relieve eye strain.

My older sister was prescribed Adderall for ADD when she was 7 and then when she was in high school, she decided to work with a nutritionist to heal. Witnessing this transformation made me think about how we can change the way we feel with the help of lifestyle changes, herbs, and nutrition.

Before becoming a nutrition coach, I was a professional model. I encountered many who took health and wellness seriously, yet still fell prey to misinformation. I’ve been advised of every nutrition cliché in the book. “Only eat 6 almonds a day!” Or, “eat a pickle and then sip Diet Coke to suppress your appetite.” I studied integrative nutrition because I wanted to discover how to look and feel my best with information that is based on proven science.

Even though I ate extremely healthy, when I started working from home, I had no option but to sit for the majority of the day and stare at screens. I couldn’t help but notice how my lifestyle impacted how I felt almost as much as the food on my plate did, but the supplements available usually only take your age and gender into account.

When designing QuartzMind’s Work From Home™, the goal was to develop a supplement that would make a real difference in how people feel. You can always earn more money, but you can’t earn more time. We’re so careful with how we spend our money, yet we’ll throw our time away frivolously (social media, unhealthy friendships, the wrong job, etc.). Instead, we should be asking how we can maximize how we feel each day.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

I didn’t think that starting a business would change me, it’s interesting how much it has. I’ve had to streamline my days and reanalyze my priorities. It has helped me get rid of so many distractions in my life. It’s made me start valuing a home cooked meal and getting to bed early way more than a night out. Now, in order for me to allow something into my life, I need to see if it moves the needle in terms of where I see QuartzMind going, or the type of person I want to be!

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I love this question- because it’s so easy to take yourself too seriously! Always shop around for manufacturers. Our first manufacturer quoted us 3 times as much as we pay now per bottle. Large manufacturers wouldn’t talk to us because we didn’t have the volume to work with them yet. I then remembered a tip from Tim Ferriss’ 4-hour work week, “Call an hour after the office closes. Normally the people who pick up are the ones in charge. Sometimes they’ll do you a favor.” Finally, after 100s of calls (during normal office hours), we called our current manufacturer who told us they could make our product for a third of what we were paying while still maintaining the same high level of quality.

Besides my co-founder, Mercury, I’d like to thank QuartzMind’s scientific advisor, Dr. David Spiegel. Besides helping to bring credibility to QuartzMind, he gives amazing business advice and really goes above and beyond.

I think from a young age as women, we are taught to never ask for more, not stand up for ourselves, and to please everyone else. To start a company is to do the opposite!

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

A lot of the time, as a woman, I’m weary that people have other motives than just believing in you. I’m so happy to see all these platforms for women to find support at all stages, and I think we are headed in a very promising direction! I still have a hard time talking about my own company, so I’ll do an exercise where I pretend that I’m talking about a friend’s company and it’s crazy how much easier that is.

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

We’re naturally intuitive and connected with our hearts and emotions. Being naturally intuitive helps us identify where people are hurting, we can tap into what people really need help!

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

There is no blueprint. Before you ever ask anyone for their opinion, make sure you have your own first. It can be so easy to be so overwhelmed by everyone else’s opinion that you can’t even figure out what your own is. “Opinion shopping” is a rabbit hole that’s so easy to fall into if you don’t first trust your intuition.

I think regular jobs are great! You can erase a lot of the weight off your shoulders of being a founder. However, if you crave that feeling of creating something, and going all in on an idea excites you more than it scares you, it’s totally worth it. In recent years with the advent of Shopify and the abundance of manufacturers both here and overseas who you can easily connect with, the barrier to entry to starting your own business has shrunk significantly. I can’t imagine the hurdles you’d have to jump through even 20 years ago to create your own brand. — that being said, it’s a total rollercoaster so be prepared for the ride before you get on it.

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.)

Stay over organized. Your calendar, your to-do list, and your files! Have a system for each one. When we first started everything was a mess, getting organized has saved me countless hours & made sure that we’re able to grow and take on employees.
Get bored. Have one day a week where you allow yourself to do nothing, no screens, no distractions just sit with your thoughts. You’ll come up with some of your best ideas and have the space to solve complicated issues.
You’ll spend more time with your co-founder than most people will with who they’re married to! Choose accordingly. When we first started, we were considering taking on another co-founder who brought a lot of value to the table but at the end of the day, we could not work with him. Looking back, bringing on another co-founder who we didn’t have chemistry with very well could have been the end of QuartzMind.
Stop being busy just for the sake of being busy. At least half of the things I was doing when I was starting Quartz Mind were unnecessary. It’s better to spend more time on the things that matter. Being able to differentiate isn’t as easy as it might seem.
The company energy is almost as important as the product and shows in everything you do. Choose people you enjoy working with, and let people know when they are killing it!

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

It’s often overlooked how amazing working from home is for the environment. By helping people to flourish in this new normal, we’re doing a small part to offset the environmental impact of long daily commutes and the waste built into people’s lives. Besides the positive environmental impact that working from home has, I hope that our products help people have a more positive outlook and most importantly feel good- Because when people feel good, they do good.

Eliminating canola oils and inflammatory seed oils from your diet. Canola oil has been shown to cause major health issues yet it’s disguised in nearly everything we eat, from store bought oat milk to bread it’s everywhere and consuming it regularly can cause terrible health consequences obesity, Alzheimer’s disease & heart dysfunction to name a few.

Adam and Rebekah Neumann. They’ve been out of the game for the biggest transition of how people work in our lifetime, and I’m curious how they see the recent evolution of working. I don’t see QuartzMind stopping with supplements and would have loved to see what WeWork would have accomplished had it been able to grow in the way that they had envisioned.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Valerie Ribon Of QuartzMind On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Disruptors: Nkechi Azie Of SCYNEXIS On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

“Believe you can do anything.” This is a part of my core philosophy and what has driven me over the years. Going back to my father’s philosophy, this has inspired and motivated me to be all I can be no matter the odds.

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, I had the pleasure of interviewing Nkechi Azie, M.D., MBA, FIDSA.

Nkechi Azie, M.D., MBA, FIDSA, is the Vice President of Clinical Development at SCYNEXIS, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCYX), a biotechnology company delivering innovative therapies for difficult-to-treat and often life-threatening infections. Dr. Azie has over 25 years of experience in drug development and medical affairs, having worked in therapeutic areas including infectious disease, women’s health, and immunology. Dr. Azie, who is board certified in internal medicine, clinical pharmacology, and infectious disease and a fellow of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), received an executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame Mendoza College of Business, a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Science from the University of Nigeria College of Medicine and conducted her medical residency and subspecialty training at Indiana University Medical Center.

As a young girl growing up in southeastern Nigeria, women were very much considered at best seen and not heard; we were taught to be nice, subservient husband-dependent women. I could not see myself that way, so I worked hard in school to be top of my class including beating the boys in math where the boys were assumed to be better than the girls. Because I excelled in school, I was accepted and attended medical school right out of high school. Those opportunities were reserved for the best and the brightest, and it was rare at the time for a woman to be able to pursue a career in medicine. I was breaking that glass ceiling at a young age. By the time I started my specialty training as a medical resident I was already a mother. Given that, I wanted to still be able to be with my family so one of my mentors advised me to investigate clinical pharmacology and that is when I went down the pharmaceutical career path starting with Eli Lilly. The research and development projects I lead today have the potential to impact millions of lives, which is very fulfilling.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

We are being disruptive at SCYNEXIS through our innovative research and development programs. For example, we’ve developed a groundbreaking, first-in-class systemic antifungal with great potential in both women’s health and hospital settings. Until last year when our first product launched, it had been more than 20 years since a new antifungal had been approved to treat vaginal yeast infections. Our work in women’s health is putting a spotlight on vaginal yeast infections, which the scientific research community has all but ignored. If this were a condition affecting men, there would be 25 drugs already created to treat it. I’m extremely proud to be working in an area with so much unmet need.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

When I was a young medical resident starting out, I didn’t always listen to others, but I quickly learned that not listening was a mistake when I almost lost a patient. When somebody tells you something you must be willing to listen. As a physician and now a corporate executive, I need to be as informed as possible because the decisions I make impact our company and the patients we aim to serve. Experience in my early years in medicine taught me many things including to be calm under pressure, to value the importance of teamwork and to call for help when you need it. When you are in medical school you must pay attention in class. It is not an option to not know something because lives depend on it. Every day of clinical practice is an exam, an exam if failed could cost a life. As doctors we are required to give so much of ourselves to patients.

We all need a little help along the journey. Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

I have been blessed to have 6 great mentors throughout my life:

Chief Sylvanus Mbanefo, my late father who was ahead of his time despite having five sons and five daughters, encouraged all his children equally. If we came home from school and did not get the highest grade in class he would ask if the person who did, had two heads. This was his way of saying that those students were no different from us, and there was nothing preventing us from also being the best in class. He used to say, “you can do anything that anyone else can.” When we did score at the top of the class there would be a lot of celebration and hullabaloos. He would cook our favorite food and tell all his friends. He would say, “Apply yourself!” This was a good lesson to learn as a child and one that I have carried with me ever since. This is what helps me motivate my team members, and celebrate our big and small wins.

Lady G.O. Mbanefo, my mother carried herself with dignity and a regal air. Her ability to respond to our family’s needs, her discipline, and her guidance has informed my work ethic. She was able to balance being a businesswoman while raising 10 children, and would say, “If you see work to be done, do it.” My mother taught us not to wait around for the person responsible. She also gave me my incredible sense of style. “It’s not what you wear but how you wear it that matters.” At the age of 89, my mom still says this to me today.

Dr. Virginia Cain from Indiana University was a strong black female physician who was one of my strongest professional mentors and advisors, and she helped me choose infectious disease specialty as my therapeutic area of medicine.

Dr. Craig Brater offered me my first break by accepting me as the first foreign medical graduate to enroll in the Indiana University internal medicine residency program. Subsequently, he encouraged me to pursue a career in clinical pharmacology. Dr. Brater suggested I investigate a career in pharmaceutical drug development. At the time I did not know what that was!

Dr. Glenn Gormley, the Executive Chairman and President of Daiichi Sankyo, was another mentor who believed in me. He encouraged me to get an MBA, despite having a full-time job and raising four girls. In a sea of naysayers and voices that discouraged me, he said, “you have to put yourself out there and take it one day at a time.” I was lucky to get him as a mentor, through the ASCPT (American society of clinical pharmacology and Therapeutics) mentoring program.

Lastly, my good friend and spiritual advisor Rev. Paulinus Odozor, C.S.Sp. has been a steady and constant source of support and has helped guide my thinking when I have faced adversity and difficult times.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’? Can you articulate to our readers when disrupting an industry is positive, and when disrupting an industry is ‘not so positive’? Can you share some examples of what you mean?

To answer this, I have to reference the concept of Polarity Management in the book by Barry Johnson. One illustration is about setting up a project where people can go to extremes between planning and rapid implementation, and each pole being a negative. For instance, in our industry, some people would want to wait until the study protocol is finalized before considering what it would take and how to implement it, wasting many months in the process. Starting implementation without thinking the goals and objectives through leads to a lot of wasted time and resources. Polarity management as a disruptive practice requires that we think through what aspects of the implementation can be initiated prior to finalization of the plan.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey? Please give a story or example for each.

“Believe you can do anything.” This is a part of my core philosophy and what has driven me over the years. Going back to my father’s philosophy, this has inspired and motivated me to be all I can be no matter the odds.

“To your own self be true.” Trying to please everyone causes a lot of stress. All my advisors imprinted on me the importance of being yourself. There is only one you. Be authentic.

“As you think so you are.” Be careful what you think as it creates the world around you. It is not what happens to you that matters, but how you think about it. Whether you think you can or you can’t, you will prove yourself right.

We are sure you aren’t done. How are you going to shake things up next?

Within SCYNEXIS, in addition to seeking approval this year of a new therapy to prevent recurrent vaginal yeast infections, we also are focused on an innovative study to investigate our first in class antifungal as a powerful therapy for serious and often-deadly infections treated in the hospital setting, including invasive candidiasis. If approved it may allow patients to leave the hospital and continue treatment with a potent oral therapy that has shown activity against a broad range of pathogens, including drug-resistant strains.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

In our society there are many gender biases, some obvious and some subtle. If a woman comes up with a disruptive idea, she is often labeled as difficult to work with, but if a man comes up with the same idea, he is considered a maverick. It forces women to be extra cautious or not speak up when they have great ideas, whereas men can be totally spontaneous.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking? Can you share a story with us?

Desiderata by Max Ehrmann is my favorite poem of all time. It says so many important things. “You are a child of the universe. You have a right to be here. Be at peace with God regardless of what you perceive that to be. Strive to be happy and do not compare yourself with others. Just be yourself.” It is loaded with so much wisdom.

The West and the Rest of Us by Chinweizu Ibekwe — This is a book that I read at a young age. There is a lot of finger pointing happening out there and this book points a finger back at you. How can we do better, especially when it comes to race relations. It gives insights into how we might be able to reverse things and create better boundaries.

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is another book that really helped me personally and provides a new perspective on why we are here on this earth. To serve, rather than to be served.

You are a person of great influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger

Plant more food trees! Specifically, African breadfruit trees. These trees could help world hunger, reduce our carbon footprint and even improve climate change. We are learning about the medical benefits of plants and trees and there is so much value in these trees as food. You can use the leaves, the bark and even the roots to reach broadly and protect the land. Can we please plant more food trees? Plant whatever lives in your part of the world.

Plant medicinal trees like the Neem tree! Most components of the tree are medicinal, and the tree itself serves as a natural pest protector without needing chemicals for pest control on farms. I think about the Indian guru, Sadhguru, speaking about his tree movement in Jaipur, India. Just plant more trees. We need a movement to educate people about trees!

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“Your attitude determines your altitude.” Believe in yourself, think positive, be positive, treat everyone well, forgive but do not lose the lesson. Greet everyone you meet with a warm smile; those that don’t smile back are the ones that need the smile the most. Smiles have been known to save lives.

How can our readers follow you online?

You can follow me on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/nkechiazie/

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!

Female Disruptors: Nkechi Azie Of SCYNEXIS On The Three Things You Need To Shake Up Your Industry was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Women In Wellness: Jacqueline Ramsey Of The Fresh Test On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help…

Women In Wellness: Jacqueline Ramsey Of The Fresh Test On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help Support People’s Journey Towards Better Wellbeing

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Know that you have the strength to choose what your intuition tells you is healthy. Without going through the science of everything, I think we all know for ourselves what is good and bad for us.

As a part of my series about the women in wellness, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jacquie Ramsey.

Jacqueline Ramsey is the founder of Fresh Test, LLC — a natural FemTech company based in Los Angeles. Fresh Test, LLC has a product that has been begged for by women…for literally decades.

With 15 years of work in Endocrinology, Obstetrics and Medical Device Business Development, Jacquie was poised fortuitously to take on big-pharma. This passion was sparked when she was asked to drink traditional “glucola” in her 1st pregnancy; Jacquie was shocked by the product’s dyes, flavoring, BVO and preservatives. Jacquie, accustomed to eating anything (e.g. termites on the CBS show, Survivor)..she refused to drink the 1970s glucola. After bouncing around from OB to OB she decided to take on the challenge of launching a more natural version of the glucose beverage for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus screening.

Jacquie’s career has always been in healthcare after graduating from UW-Madison. Growing up in the Midwest, Jacquie has a love hate relationship with her obsession over work. However she finds ways to stay glued to her co-founders (age 3 and 5) after work-hours. Her son and daughter were right along-side her (one was inside) through the many years of R&D and product launch.

Jacquie literally “runs” meetings while taking as many as she can on the road, jogging. A true college athlete and triathlete, Jacquie is taking a unique approach to business and claims the runner’s-high leads to extremely successful brainstorming sessions. She is running this clinically backed company fast with 65% quarterly growth in hopes to make a massive impact before turning 40 in late 2022. Having started many companies throughout her life, Jacquie immediately felt God’s hand on this one. This business always felt unique; no longer a struggler but rather each step was replenishing and reinvigorating.

While starting her family, Jacquie and her artist husband Tyler Ramsey, re-married in 20 different countries and cultures while working abroad in hospitals. Jacquie’s global perspective on healthcare has lent itself to an extremely innovative and natural portfolio of nutraceuticals and medical devices coming to market in the female space. Jacquie started her career in Fortune 500 Medical companies and although she has respects big-pharma, she hopes Fresh Test’s spike in market share has made a loud impression; to steer away from “earnings calls” focus and towards a better “why”…strengthening the voice of the patient & bringing mother-nature back into products.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Our readers would love to “get to know you” better. Can you share your “backstory” with us?

I had 15 years of experience in sales and business development for diabetes and obstetrics industries. In a touch of serendipity, 15 years ago, my Obstetrician asked me to drink a beverage to manage gestational diabetes. I was pressed to take on the challenge of creating a natural option to manage diabetes and compete with Big Pharma.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started your career? What were the main lessons or takeaways from that story?

It’s quite incredible that when you find something in life that seems to align with who you are and what you think you’re destined for, everything somehow seems to come together. Daunting obstacles somehow move easily, and progress comes organically. I’ve founded several start-up companies in the past and I always felt challenged or forced, until I founded The Fresh Test, LLC. I eagerly took on the task of launching an organic glucose beverage. With 15 years of experience in endocrinology and obstetrics education and business development, the company always felt right. In many ways, start-ups are hard, but starting The Fresh Test, LLC felt natural, easy and true to who I am.

Can you share a story about the biggest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

I hired a consultant without thinking about or preparing a contract. Within a year of working together, this consultant tried to challenge me on ownership percentages. If I didn’t concede, he threatened to leave the company and compete with me in the market. Looking back, I wish I had been more selective of the people I work with.

Let’s jump to our main focus. When it comes to health and wellness, how is the work you are doing helping to make a bigger impact in the world?

My company wants to bring natural choices back into the pharma world. Today, everyone reads labels and does their best to be healthier and more environmentally conscious. Nowadays, It’s important to provide options to people. It empowers women to know they can choose a product designed for and by women with their health and baby in mind. In the past, I feel that pharma companies base their product and company decisions solely on earnings and ROI. However, we’ve set that aside with The Fresh Test, LLC. Our brand brings healthier options for women, whatever the cost. That is our purpose.

Can you share your top five “lifestyle tweaks” that you believe will help support people’s journey towards better wellbeing? Please give an example or story for each.

Know that you have the strength to choose what your intuition tells you is healthy. Without going through the science of everything, I think we all know for ourselves what is good and bad for us.
Consume what nourishes your mind, heart, soul and body. Everything else brings you in the opposite direction.
If you want to feel your best, say yes to feeling your best. It’s your choice whether you want to make your yes mean yes.
Unhealthy lifestyles and habits are generally a reaction to a larger problem. We should get to the root of the problem and heal from there. Wellness will follow after that.
Every day, we need to put on our armor and call upon strength and choose wellness.

If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of wellness to the most amount of people, what would that be?

Women proclaiming from their rooftops that we should try natural remedies, natural foods and inner wellness FIRST before jumping to “band-aid fixes” or artificial products and drugs. It’s incredible what a single day of choosing wellness can do!

What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why?

Pour LOVE into everything — each conversation, meeting, product, idea, email, employee and everything else in between deserves it.
Use principles from the Bible and the best CEO out there, Jesus, to guide your company and your day.
Things don’t have to be hard or grueling. When they are, it’s a sign that something might be wrong, but a light will shine on it to work it out. Things will feel right and true, when they are ready to be.
Straighten your priorities and everything else will fall into place. If you have the privilege of playing and giggling with your little one on the floor, take it! There is no better way to prepare for a meeting. You will be more efficient and you will have the mental clarity to make better decision with a tank full of love.
I made the mistake of piling on project after project. I felt it was a good idea to pile on another project when my stress is maxed out. Choosing to do less has helped me accomplish more. Adding more projects to mask my stress was a pattern I wish I addressed years ago.

Sustainability, veganism, mental health and environmental changes are big topics at the moment. Which one of these causes is dearest to you, and why?

Mental health. We need to heal ourselves and feel and absorb love in order to give it back. Love can move mountains that can assist with sustainability, environmental changes, health concerns, etc. After having my first child, I fell deep into post-partum depression that clouded everything and caused great pain. Starting The Fresh Test felt so empowering and fulfilling that it helped me climb out of that pit and heal. It was only then that I was able to make wise choices, offer love and do my part to help improve the world.

What is the best way our readers can follow you online?

Instagram, @TheFreshTest and our website www.thefreshtest.com

Thank you for these fantastic insights! We wish you continued success and good health.

Women In Wellness: Jacqueline Ramsey Of The Fresh Test On The Five Lifestyle Tweaks That Will Help… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Female Founders: Sue Downes of MyEyeDr On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman…

Female Founders: Sue Downes of MyEyeDr On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman Founder

An Interview With Candice Georgiadis

Not everyone aspires to be the CEO, and that’s ok. Listening to your team and discovering their goals is better than assuming that their ambitions match yours. You need to understand each individual’s needs and dreams and find where that fits into your company’s growth plans.

As a part of our series about “Why We Need More Women Founders”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sue Downes.

Sue Downes, CEO and co-founder of MyEyeDr., had an extensive career in the eye care industry prior to starting the company, and has worked in almost every area of the eye care field for more than thirty years. She has built a brand that is as unique as she is and has created a brand identity for MyEyeDr. that connects independent optometry practices under one unifying mission — to provide the best vision health and wellness experience possible for patients. In addition to her work, Downes is an active volunteer throughout the community and has been the recipient of several prestigious honors, including Montgomery County Chamber’s “Spirit of Free Enterprise” award; the 2011 Most Influential Woman award; the 2012 Smart CEO award for Entrepreneurial Spirit; the 2015 ACG Corporate Growth Award; the Optical Women’s Association 2016 winner of the Pleiades Award; the 2018 Person of Vision by Prevent Blindness; and was recently named Vice Chairwoman of Highpoint University’s Elizabeth Miller Strickland Women’s Leadership Council.

Every great business usually starts with a problem to be solved, and the energy behind founding MyEyeDr. was no different. My father was very sick and, in the hospital, and I found myself spending more time dealing with insurance companies trying to understand his benefits than I was focusing on his care. My background at that point was in the optical field with a deep knowledge of managed care so I thought, “Why couldn’t there be a business that took the mystery and the confusion away from vision insurance benefits so patients could spend more time with their doctor and less time on the administrative task of trying to figure out what was covered and what was not? So, we started MyEyeDr. with the concept of ‘welcoming all insurances’ so our patients could have an expert in their corner to help them navigate the administrative side of care. The concept is simple — you can spend more time focused on your eye health and eye care needs if you could spend less time and energy trying to understand what you are entitled to and how it works.”

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your company?

“This was more scary than interesting for me, but right at the same time we were negotiating with our first private equity partner in 2012, I came down with optic neuritis. I didn’t know that at the moment — what I did know was that I was losing my vision rapidly and I was scared that I was going to be blind. Optic neuritis is a condition that occurs when swelling damages the optic nerve — that bundle of nerve fibers that send visual information from your eye to your brain. Now, I was fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful optometrists and I knew how to get the help I needed. It was through that experience that I realized how fortunate I was to have the support and knowledge that I had. In a very real way, I understood and appreciated more deeply how people living with severe vision loss are impacted. So, the experience truly crystalized our company’s mission for me. Everyone deserves to have access to comprehensive vision healthcare, and I try to bring that passion to the causes we support. For example, the company and I continue to support Prevent Blindness, a wonderful organization that delivers direct service programs designed to preserve sight through screening, publications, safety, education, information and referral through volunteer efforts.”

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?

“I like to quote Michael Jordan, and he’s been credited with saying that ‘you miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take’. So, have I missed some shots along the way? I know I have, and I will continue to make mistakes but that means I’m in the game, trying new things, putting myself out there. And every time I earn a new battle scar from my mistakes, I’m stronger and more resilient. It is not the successes that make you, it is the wounds that you earn along that way that help you get better.”

“There are 2 people who come to mind right away. First, Dr. Parker May gave me my first job in an optometrist’s office and he taught the importance of filling every available exam slot with someone who needed to be seen. I’ve never lost that lesson about the urgency of getting a patient in for an appointment because that could be the appointment that saves their life, literally. Secondly, my co-founder, Dr. Rob Samit modeled such an amazing drive to succeed, and he gave me the autonomy to grow as a professional. I will always be grateful for his faith in me.”

“I would hope that my experience isn’t the norm, but I’ve learned that too many women have heard the messages that I heard as a young co-founder — ‘You can’t do this or that” or “No one else does it that way, it won’t work.” For me, I was motivated by those messages, I was determined to prove them wrong. But that’s not everyone’s experience. Those discouraging messages can take a toll and stop some potential entrepreneurs from taking a chance and trusting their skills and expertise. I do believe this is changing, as I am seeing more young women expand into many different fields that they might not have even ten years ago. We must do more to open the eyes of young females to careers that allow them the same trajectory that men traditionally have access to.”

Can you help articulate a few things that can be done as individuals, as a society, or by the government, to help overcome those obstacles?

“I think there are tons of great private initiatives out there building up the confidence and self-esteem of women so they can tackle the toughest business challenges in a world still dominated by men in the C-suite. One of those is the Strickland Women’s L.I.F.T Fellowship Program through High Point University that I am proud to be a part of. The program provides networking, leadership development, mentorship and coaching for female students interested in becoming CEOs, leaders, entrepreneurs, executives, and trailblazers in their chosen careers. There are so many programs like this across the country and I would encourage young women to get involved and seek out these mentorship opportunities. But I would add that it’s not just programs for aspiring female entrepreneurs. There are groups working hard to expand opportunities for many diverse populations and we have a need to grow the representation of many different groups within business leadership, not just women.”

This might be intuitive to you as a woman founder but I think it will be helpful to spell this out. Can you share a few reasons why more women should become founders?

“Well, I think more people in general regardless of sex, should consider entrepreneurship. Starting and running your own business is part of the American Dream and I would hope that more and more people would seize the opportunities and be less afraid to take that leap. However, I understand why you ask your question the way that you do. Women historically have not been business founders and that’s a shame. I think that women have a lived experience that gives them a unique perspective on project leadership and on building and motivating teams, understanding how to balance caring for people while enabling their ability to perform. Remember founders can’t do everything themselves. They can try for a while but it’s not sustainable. Successful founders solve problems and surround themselves with talent to get things done, and, in my experience, women are pretty good at that!”

What are the “myths” that you would like to dispel about being a founder? Can you explain what you mean?

“The biggest myth could be that I have all the answers. The truth is that I don’t have all the answers — but I’d like to think that I ask all the right questions and then hire a group of people who are experts in their specific fields who, when brought together, help me deliver on my vision.”

“Not everyone is cut out to be a founder. To start a company takes someone who is comfortable with risk; someone who is comfortable driving forward when others say stop; someone who thrives on change and on evolving themselves. Being a founder can be a scary proposition and you must be the kind of person who embraces that fear and uses it as positive energy.”

Ok super. Here is the main question of our interview. What are your “5 Things I Wish Someone Told Me Before I Started” and why? (Please share a story or example for each.).

Not everyone aspires to be the CEO, and that’s ok. Listening to your team and discovering their goals is better than assuming that their ambitions match yours. You need to understand each individual’s needs and dreams and find where that fits into your company’s growth plans.

Failure makes you stronger. But only when you accept and own your responsibility within the failure. What did you learn? Always deconstruct what happened and apply those learned lessons for the next time. You can never be afraid to try!

People are the true key to your success. You may have expertise in your field, you may have a great service to offer, you may have abundant resources; but, at the end of the day, it’s your people that will deliver results.

It really does take a village. In your journey, there will be hard times. You will need your friends, your professional colleagues, your local community, your family — everyone at one time or another. Keep those connections strong and invest in those relationships.

Grow thick skin. You will receive the criticism, I promise. But if you approach the criticisms as opportunities to reevaluate, rethink, challenge yourself, you will learn something every time, even if it’s a lesson you didn’t want.

How have you used your success to make the world a better place?

MyEyeDr. optometrists saw over 3 million patients last year and that number grows every year. That’s over 3 million patients that had an opportunity to learn more about the critical role that vision healthcare can play in their lives. That’s the mission and what inspires me every single day — helping people recognize the value of great vision and great vision healthcare. You don’t know how much better you can see the world until someone gives you that gift of clear vision. Think about it — how does a child know that the blurry sign 20 feet away can be seen with perfect clarity by the person next to her? She likely thinks that everyone experiences the same fuzzy world that she does. We are changing people’s relationship with their eyes daily, and I truly believe that helping the world to see clearly can make the world a better place.

Of course, MyEyeDr. supports several outside charitable causes like Prevent Blindness, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, and Toys for Tots, as well as starting our own charitable entity, The MyEyeDr. OneFamily Community Fund. Those are important, but we see our daily work as making the world a better place — one set of eyes at a time.

“That’s simple. If I can be a part of convincing everyone in this country to have their vision checked annually, that would impact millions of people. Think of children whose vision issues could be caught early and corrected. How would that change the trajectory of their lives? We have been taught for years that you should have your teeth cleaned twice per year. I’d like to play a part in creating a world where everyone knows the importance of getting their eyes checked every year — not just when they have a problem, but to prevent future health and eye health problems.”

I am like most people, so my first thought is I’d love to have lunch with my little dog Coco and find out what she’s really thinking about all day! But this is a very good question. I think if I had to choose, I would want to spend some time with Queen Elizabeth II. She has been through so much change over the time of her reign and has survived through it all. If you’d like to tag someone with this interview, I would enjoy time with Howard Schultz too. His leadership in adapting the Starbucks brand for the future fascinates me. He didn’t keep doing the same thing, and he recognized that to continue to thrive, the brand needed to keep evolving.

Thank you for these fantastic insights. We greatly appreciate the time you spent on this.

Female Founders: Sue Downes of MyEyeDr On The Five Things You Need To Thrive and Succeed as a Woman… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.